I have decided to do my project on Arthurian literature. I have heard bits and pieces of King Arthur stories as a child, but I have never had a chance to read the stories. It will be interesting to see how much they differ. I will start by reading Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory.
Checkpoint #2:
Summary
The story “Le Morte D'Arthur” by Sir Thomas Malory takes place in a fictional Kingdom located in England. This is a story of personal betrayal, social conflict, divine justice, vengeance, and honor. The story revolves around King Arthur(King of all Kings, and devout Christian), Queen Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot(most renowned and respected Knight of the Round Table). There was a lasting peace until a plot to expose the affair between Queen Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot went horribly wrong. The result was the death of many Knights of the Round Table, shattered trust, and an end to the peace that King Arthur desired. Social conflict divides the Knights into two factions, those loyal to Sir Lancelot, and those loyal to King Arthur. King Arthur's sense of divine justice results in yet again more death which perpetuates desire for vengeance among those closest to the King. After pressure from the church, Lancelot is forced to return the Queen with the promise she would be safe, and faces exile from England. Lancelot finds himself being pursued even as he flees to France. After months of war an unexpected betrayal by Sir Mordred(King's Son) requires the King to return to England. It is here in England that tragedy strikes and requires Sir Lancelot to return to England once again so that he can honor his fallen brothers and fight for his King. He returns to great pain, which ultimately changes who he becomes.
Quote Analysis
1. “I wot not how it was,” said the king, “but as it is said, Sir Lancelot slew them in the thick press, and knew them not. And therefore let us shape a remedy for to revenge their deaths.”(Le Morte D'Arthur 768)
King Arthur is speaking to Sir Gawain. It sounds like King Arthur is trying to encourage Sir Gawain to pursue revenge on Sir Lancelot. I think it only seems that way because of the wording, just moments before King Arthur tried to tell those who informed him of the death of Sir Gareth, and Sir Gaheris not to say anything to avoid angering Sir Gawain, because he feared he would pursue revenge. Sir Gawain responded by swearing vengeance on Sir Lancelot. I think this says a lot about Sir Gawain’s personality. In the previous chapter Sir Gawain mentions how he will not pursue Sir Lancelot because the knights whom he killed knew what they were getting into. This hasn't changed much other than the fact that they were unarmed. If it is true that knights identified themselves by the coat of arms on their shield, then Sir Lancelot couldn't have known who they were. I can conclude that Sir Gawain has a very unpredictable personality if he will go from promising no vengeance to swearing vengeance. I can also conclude that King Arthur knew his knights well enough to be able to predict this. I chose this quote, because I noticed that there was a huge contradiction in such a short period of time.
2. “Now, truly,” said the Queen, “I have none armour, neither helm, shield, sword, neither spear, wherefore I dread me sore our long love is come to a mischievous end. For I hear by their noise there be many noble knights, and well I wot they be surely armed, and against them ye may make no resistance. Wherefore ye are likely to be slain, and then I shall be brent!” For an ye might escape them,” said the queen, “I would not doubt but that ye would rescue me in what danger that I ever stood in.”(Le Morte D'Arthur 760)
Queen Guinevere is speaking to Sir Lancelot. Sir Lancelot is Queen Guinevere's favored knight, this passage makes it clear how much she trusts him. She encourages him to escape so that he may save her from burning at the stake. She also makes it clear to the reader that they were in love for a long time. This is the only clue that the affair accusations were valid if the reader had not read “Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere”. Other than this, everything is just hearsay by the other knights. At a later point Sir Lancelot tells his loyal knights that he is the Queen's most trusted knight, and that he was charged with her protection. This makes perfect sense though, as Sir Lancelot would not want to expose the true nature of their relationship, because that would make it clear that the accusations of treason were true. This quote was chosen because I like to determine if something is more than just one sided.
3. “I will no more do than I have done.” said Sir Lancelot. “For when I see you on foot I will do battle upon you all the while I see you stand upon your feet; but to strike a wounded man that may not stand, God defend me from such a shame!”(Le Morte D'Arthur 782)
Sir Lancelot is speaking to Sir Gawain. This statement says a lot about Sir Lancelot's character. He has an unshakable sense of honor, and would never do something to bring shame upon himself. The only exception is when fighting for Queen Guinevere, or King Arthur. One example is when he fights to protect Queen Guinevere. He doesn't hesitate to kill anyone who poses a threat, but he does express disappointment in having to kill his fellow knights. An interesting note, is that Sir Lancelot still manages to be loyal to King Arthur even after all that has happened. He repeatedly states that he will never harm the Lord who made him a knight. Sir Lancelot could easily justify killing Sir Gawain, yet he still insists on standing by his sense of honor. Sir Gawain is probably the sole person that fuels the war against Sir Lancelot, he could use the reason that he would prevent his fellow knights from dying needlessly if he could take that one life. He could also claim self defense, because Sir Gawain states even upon defeat that if Sir Lancelot doesn't kill him, then he will certainly return. When comparing the characters of Sir Gawain, and Sir Lancelot, it is clear that Sir Lancelot is far more stable and unchanging even after all that has happened. Sir Gawain seems to be the evil knight who is driven by vengeance, while Sir Lancelot seems to be portrayed as the good honorable knight who is driven by love and honor with love being the priority as he can cast aside his honor if it is for the right person. I chose this quote because I was surprised at how adamant Sir Lancelot is with keeping his honor.
Annotated Bibliography
1. Kaufman, Amy S. "The Law of the Lake: Malory's Sovereign Lady". Arthuriana 17.3 (2007): 56-73. JSTOR. Web. 13 Oct. 2014
Amy S. Kaufman is a professor at Middle Tennessee State University who is also Director of Conferences for the International Society for the Study of Medievalism. She currently teaches English, Medieval Romance, and Feminist Theory. All of her publications relate to Medieval studies, and most discuss women in Arthurian literature. In this journal Kaufman brings up the recent studies that suggested that female characters take on a role as guides. She also mentions how Nynyve, the Lady of the Lake was also seen trying to change the foundation of King Arthur's court. Those changes included making efforts to protect women and their rights. I wonder if this means that Malory was in support for equal rights regardless of gender.
2. Hodges, Kenneth. “Guinevere's Politics in Malory's “Morte Darthur”” The Journal of English and Germanic Philology, Vol. 104, No. 1 (Jan., 2005), pp. 54-79. JSTOR. Web. 13 Oct. 2014
Kenneth Hodges is a professor at Keene State College who has had many articles published in relation to Arthurian literature. He holds a Ph.D in medieval literature and enjoys finding order in complex works. The particular article of interest is “Guinevere's Politics in Malory's “Morte Darthur””, which discusses Guinevere's ability to get people to act morally. The one exception is the adultery between her and Lancelot. He particularly enjoys learning about Chivalry, which is the code of conduct adopted by medieval knights. This covers a broad area of research since it also applies to moral, and social values as well.
3. Field, P. J. C. “Caxton's Roman War”. Arthuriana. Vol. 5, No. 2, EDITING MALORY (SUMMER 1995) , pp. 31-73. JSTOR. Web. 13 Oct. 2014
Peter Field is an English professor at Bangor University, and former president of the International Arthurian Society. He has produced a large number or Arthurian, and non-Arthurian works, though it was his Arthurian work that has made him known. Field speaks of the "Roman War", which from my understanding is the differences between Caxton, and Winchester texts. The Winchester script is supposed to be the most accurate, and it leaves Malory's personal notes instead of removing them. Field has also revised "The Life and Times of Sir Thomas Malory". He made corrections, made some notes, while refraining from modifying the text in any substantial way.
Checkpoint #3:
Annotated Bibliography
4. McLay Amy. "Swords: Power and Agency in the Morte Darthur". AmyMcLay Paterson, 2011. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
Amy McLay is a Teaching Assistant at Dalhousie University Faculty of Management. She holds a B.A. in English Language and Literature, a Master of Arts in English Literature, and she is a Master of Library and Information Studies candidate. The article is called “Chicks with Swords: Power and Agency in the Morte Darthur” which primarily focuses on gender. One being the sword which represents masculinity, while the sheathe represents femininity. She also mentions King Arthur's view of his sword Excalibur, which was given to him by the Lady of the Lake. Merlin calls Arthur unwise because he prefers the sword to the sheath, because the drawing the sword will likely result in blood while the sheath provides power without bloodshed. Another point that she makes is about Merlin and Lancelot. They are described as the most feminine male characters. She also talks about how Lancelot is well aware of the control Queen Guinevere has over him, and all of the great feats he is able to accomplish in her name. She recalls many instances where female characters are able to grant power to knights, and through them are able to effect the world around them. According to McLay, Malory gives all of his male characters outer strength, while female characters have inner strength. Inner strength refers to private thoughts, and seems to include wisdom. Outer strength refers to brute strength and violence. I haven't been able to identify any clear cases to identify double standards, but I think this will help form a picture. This will help form a complete picture by showing the qualities a powerful man or woman is likely to have.
5. Hodges, Kenneth. “Swords and Sorceresses: The Chivalry of Malory's Nyneve”. Arthuriana 12.2 (2002): 78-96. JSTOR. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
This source was sourced in “Guinevere's Politics in Malory's “Morte Darthur””.
Kenneth Hodges is a professor at Keene State College who has had many articles published in relation to Arthurian literature which I stated in a previous annotation. The article of interest is named “Swords and Sorceresses: The Chivalry of Malory's Nyneve”. I chose this article because McLay stated in the previous article, women were often seen bestowing swords, and therefore power to knights. I was also aware that as a character Nyneve had a lot of power and gave Arthur his Excalibur. Hodges talks a lot about the power Malory had given women. Prior to the transition to blood-feud chivalry women were seen objects for the taken. He uses Igrayne as an example. When she was kidnapped, she was portrayed as a helpless, and unimportant character. After the blood-feud chivalry transition, women were represented much differently, and Igrayne returned as an important character to tell her story. Hodges also discusses how Nyneve and Guinevere take steps to support women in the chivalric code. The most important discussion discusses the roles of Nyneve and Morgan le Fay. They are described as being tremendously powerful, polar opposites, and mortal enemies. Nyneve abides strictly by the chivalric code and protects Arthur, while Morgan le Fay has no respect for it, and plots to destroy Arthur. This article provides some valuable insight into how the role of female characters changed as a result of the blood-feud transition.
6. Jesmok, Janet. “The Double Life of Malory's Lancelot du Lake”. Arthuriana 17.4 (2007): 81-92. JSTOR. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
Janet Jesmok is a retired professor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, it was here she taught courses on Arthurian literature. She has been studying Malory's works since the 1970's. The article of interest is called “The Double Life of Malory's Lancelot du Lake”, which I chose because McLay mentioned that Lancelot was described as the most feminine and sensitive male character along with Merlin. It was said that it probably because he was raised by the Lady of the Lake without a fatherly figure. Note that “du Lake” is generally given to female characters. Jesmok talks about two personalities that Lancelot has, and says that his violent personality is suppressed by the chivalric code. Jesmok mentions the time Lancelot disguises himself and proceeds to kill fellow Knights of the Round Table while claiming to be an enemy of Arthur. The dark side was also seen arguing with Lamorak over whose lady is more beautiful. This childish argument led to a violent fight. Another example is when Melleagaunt kidnaps Guinevere. Jesmok notes that both the Lancelot, the protagonist, and Melleagaunt, the antagonist desire the same things from Guinevere and the only difference is that one is more forceful. Lancelot struggles constantly to keep this dark side repressed, and most people only see the good side which is described as being nearly a perfect example of a knight. This article didn't relate to my theme as much as I thought it was going to at first, but I found it really interesting that at times he acts much like a beserker. It is also seen that Malory wanted to make clear that Lancelot walked a fine line between the good guy, and the bad guy.
Reflection
During the research process I have noticed a few very common themes when scholars discuss Malory's work. One of the more common themes is gender, which often goes into discussing masculinity, or femininity. Some more common themes are social conflict, and personal conflict which are closely related. An example of personal conflict was when Lancelot acted out in violence when his alter-ego took over. Social conflict often lies in loyalties and adherence to chivalric code. Another is justice, which could easily result in personal, and social conflict when the person dealing justice has to do so against their own wishes or those around him. An instance of this occurred when Nyneve imprisoned (or killed) Merlin because he forcefully tried to seduce Nyneve. It was difficult for those that were close to Merlin, but it was decided that due to the strict chivalric code that she wasn't guilty of any crime, and punishment had been rightfully dealt. Many of the scholars approached their works by giving a brief summary of an incident, and then following up with more detail. These details usually looked into possible reasons a character acts the way they do, and also considers what message Malory was trying to send. It is amazing seeing how deeply Malory's works have been analyzed, and what process they use to learn more about the stories. The way they present their works, make it sound like Malory was some genius who never wrote down a word unless it contributed to his overall message.
Query
While researching, a few important questions came up regarding “Le Morte D'Arthur”, and Thomas Malory as a person. After seeing how deeply people analyze the readings, I began to question if Malory was simply telling a story, or trying to get a special message across. I find it difficult to believe that any human could put as much thought into a story before writing it as these scholars make it appear. I guess this would be proof that when an author writes, they see it as a form of art, rather than just a means of communication. My main question before starting is whether there are any clear cases of double standards present in King Arthur's court, and I figured that gender studies would provide the most insight into this area. I quickly found out that this is not a simple question. There are many stages in Malory's book that result in the change of social standings. As mentioned previously, following the blood-feud chivalry, the social status of female went up. The social status of many characters, including Igrayne, Nyneve, and Guinevere went up. Igrayne was the key character in one of the stories following this period, while both Nyneve, and Guinevere both played increasing roles in King Arthur's court.
Checkpoint #4:
Abstract
For this article I will be discussing themes that are likely to touch upon topics in which double standards are likely. Some of these topics include marriage, adultery, sexual misconduct, laws, and loyalty. Each of these topics can be part of one or more of the other topics. Double standards arise when one group of people are expected to abide by rules that don't apply or get applied differently to another group. Certain situations are fine, such as rules that a knight must follow that normal citizens don't have to concern themselves with. These rules are part of being a knight, and as long as they are applied consistently there is no danger of double standards. Sexual misconduct is one example of a double standard. An unmarried couple can choose to engage in sexual misconduct, but it is only the female and her family that becomes shamed because she lost her chastity. The male's honor would be completely unharmed because they are not expected to be chaste. Some situations of double standard can exist when it comes to the law. In a case where someone plots to kill the king or queen, the law demands that the person be charged with treason. If it was the king or queen that plotted to kill someone else, they would only go through trial for murder and not treason. Laws were put into place that would prevent someone from having a relationship with a servant, and the penalty would vary depending on the masters social status. Theses laws wouldn't punish the servant, it would punish the person they were having relations with. The end result is a system that makes it nearly impossible for a servant to fall in love. I will discuss further examples, and go into more detail about how each party is affected. In situations of law, Malory implemented much law, the way it was in the 14th century. The majority of examples will originate from the works of Malory, but some will also include elements of 14th century law in England.
Annotated Bibliography
7. Muckerheide, Ryan. “The English Law of Treason in Malory's 'Le Morte Darthur'”. Arthuriana 20.4 (2010): 48-77. JSTOR. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
Ryan Muckerheide is an Assistant Professor with a PhD at Bowling Green State University. He wrote a thesis called “English laws and customs in Sir Thomas Malory's 'Le Morte Darthur'”. He also wrote a journal article called “The English Law of Treason in Malory's “Le Morte Darthur””. Muckerheide mentions that treason in the early 14th century was mostly a crime against the king's peace, crown, or dignity. Due to how vague the term treason was, it became a political weapon that made it easier to convict than a felony. Muckerheide mentioned that Malory was a member of parliament, and sheriff for a few years. I recall there being a few candidates for being the real Malory, so it sounds like he is referring to John Malory of Warwickshire. Muckerheide describes Malory as being familiar with the way the law worked, but not officially taught. He also mentioned how murder was under the jurisdiction of the common law courts. There were strict proceedings for charging someone with murder, one example was when Queen Guinevere was suspected of poisoning apples that killed Sir Patryse. This situation is an example of double standard in the law, because if it were the other way around, Sir Patryse would have been charged with treason. King Arthur is tempted to defend his Queen, but is required to properly follow the court proceedings. Muckerheide also states that the adultery between Guinevere and Lancelot is obvious treason, but so is the fact that so many of the knights chose not to step forward for so long. Overall he discusses situations where Malory tries to have his characters abide strictly by law.
8. Kennedy, Beverly. “Adultery in Malory's 'Le Morte d'Arthur'”. Arthuriana 7.4 (1997): 63-91. JSTOR. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
Beverly Kennedy is a professor at Marianopolis College, who has written many journal articles relating to Malory's works. Besides the one referenced in this citation, she has written “The Idea of Providence in Malory's “Le Morte Darthur””, and many other journal articles. In discussing Sir Gawain and his viewpoint on adultery, it is clear that his viewpoint on the subject is an obvious double standard. If an unmarried female family member loses her chastity during improper sexual intercourse, the girl and her family would be dishonored. On the other end of the matter it is stated that if he were to engage in unlawful improper behavior, the honor of him or his families would be unharmed. It sounds like this is more of a societal issue than a strike against his character. Sir Gawain and King Arthur while unmarried had loose sexual ethics and were willing to engage in adulterous relationships as long as they didn't owe their loyalty to the woman's husband. I don't think this particular situation would be considered a double standard since only one person is expected to be faithful, but it could easily be considered immoral. Lancelot however, is different than the previous two. He sees unmarried sex to be a sin, and his wish is to honor god. He is unable to marry because it would put an end to his life as a knight. This results in a paradox, if he wishes to remain a knight it will ultimately lead to sin. It seems that Queen Guinevere is the only lady who can tempt him to “dishonor” god. This article has been important in better understanding adultery, sexual ethics, and in identifying some instances of double standards.
9. Moorman, Charles. “Courtly Love in Malory”. ELH 27.3 (1960): 163-176. JSTOR. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
Charles Moorman spent many years teaching as a professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, and has a PhD in English. Besides the text cited above, Moorman wrote “Wrote Unity of Malory's Darthur”, and “A Knight There Was: The Evolution of the Knight in Literature”. There are many more, but these are the most relevant to my research topic. Moorman talks about how obvious it is that Malory disapproves of the adulterous relationship between Lancelot, and Guinevere. He also states that the “Tale of Gareth” story is presented to show that the end of true love is marriage. I see the point that he tries to make, but I disagree with his wording. Through my own observations I feel that marriage shouldn't be the end, it should be a goal, and the start of something new. Moorman compares this story to the affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, in which courtly love, rather than virtuous love, which brought ruin to King Arthur and his kingdom. He mentioned the point in which Gareth the virtuous lover, was killed by Lancelot the courtly lover. He also mentions the irony of how Arthur committed
adultery with his half sister Morgan le Fay. This resulted in Mordred being born, who was dedicated towards insuring that Guinevere and Lancelot were punished for their crimes. It is clear as a result of reading this article, that Moorman was trying to prove that Malory saw an obvious difference between the two types of love and referred to stories he believed that Malory used to communicate this belief. It was beneficial to see these stories broken up into themes like this, and to see this from another perspective.
Argument against articles
The argument of the article from article annotation four by McLay appears to challenge the original thought that shows female characters playing a passive role, and describes situations where they play a more active role. I agree with some statements made by McLay which refer to Lancelot as being one of the most feminine male characters because of his “du Lake” title, which was granted only to female characters with power and influence in politics (Kaufman 57). This name was likely chosen because it was the Lady of the Lake who raised him, McLay also states that he was raised without a father figure while he was growing up. The main point that I greatly oppose is when she discusses how Lancelot is fully aware of his love for Queen Guinevere, and how his greatest deeds have always been for her. The fact that he is able to recognize why he is able to perform at his best, is the result of self reflection. This is not an ability specific to the feminine thought, but something that all humans should be capable of. Upon recognizing this, a person could embrace this as both a strength, and a weakness. In the case of Lancelot it is a weakness because of the tragic results, but also a strength because of his accomplishments.
Medievalist for a Semester
Checkpoint #1:
I have decided to do my project on Arthurian literature. I have heard bits and pieces of King Arthur stories as a child, but I have never had a chance to read the stories. It will be interesting to see how much they differ. I will start by reading Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory.
Checkpoint #2:
Summary
The story “Le Morte D'Arthur” by Sir Thomas Malory takes place in a fictional Kingdom located in England. This is a story of personal betrayal, social conflict, divine justice, vengeance, and honor. The story revolves around King Arthur(King of all Kings, and devout Christian), Queen Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot(most renowned and respected Knight of the Round Table). There was a lasting peace until a plot to expose the affair between Queen Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot went horribly wrong. The result was the death of many Knights of the Round Table, shattered trust, and an end to the peace that King Arthur desired. Social conflict divides the Knights into two factions, those loyal to Sir Lancelot, and those loyal to King Arthur. King Arthur's sense of divine justice results in yet again more death which perpetuates desire for vengeance among those closest to the King. After pressure from the church, Lancelot is forced to return the Queen with the promise she would be safe, and faces exile from England. Lancelot finds himself being pursued even as he flees to France. After months of war an unexpected betrayal by Sir Mordred(King's Son) requires the King to return to England. It is here in England that tragedy strikes and requires Sir Lancelot to return to England once again so that he can honor his fallen brothers and fight for his King. He returns to great pain, which ultimately changes who he becomes.
Quote Analysis
1. “I wot not how it was,” said the king, “but as it is said, Sir Lancelot slew them in the thick press, and knew them not. And therefore let us shape a remedy for to revenge their deaths.”(Le Morte D'Arthur 768)
King Arthur is speaking to Sir Gawain. It sounds like King Arthur is trying to encourage Sir Gawain to pursue revenge on Sir Lancelot. I think it only seems that way because of the wording,
just moments before King Arthur tried to tell those who informed him of the death of Sir Gareth, and Sir Gaheris not to say anything to avoid angering Sir Gawain, because he feared he would pursue revenge. Sir Gawain responded by swearing vengeance on Sir Lancelot. I think this says a lot about Sir Gawain’s personality. In the previous chapter Sir Gawain mentions how he will not pursue Sir Lancelot because the knights whom he killed knew what they were getting into. This hasn't changed much other than the fact that they were unarmed. If it is true that knights identified themselves by the coat of arms on their shield, then Sir Lancelot couldn't have known who they were. I can conclude that Sir Gawain has a very unpredictable personality if he will go from promising no vengeance to swearing vengeance. I can also conclude that King Arthur knew his knights well enough to be able to predict this. I chose this quote, because I noticed that there was a huge contradiction in such a short period of time.
2. “Now, truly,” said the Queen, “I have none armour, neither helm, shield, sword, neither spear, wherefore I dread me sore our long love is come to a mischievous end. For I hear by their noise there be many noble knights, and well I wot they be surely armed, and against them ye may make no resistance. Wherefore ye are likely to be slain, and then I shall be brent!” For an ye might escape them,” said the queen, “I would not doubt but that ye would rescue me in what danger that I ever stood in.”(Le Morte D'Arthur 760)
Queen Guinevere is speaking to Sir Lancelot. Sir Lancelot is Queen Guinevere's favored knight, this passage makes it clear how much she trusts him. She encourages him to escape so that he may save her from burning at the stake. She also makes it clear to the reader that they were in love for a long time. This is the only clue that the affair accusations were valid if the reader had not read “Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere”. Other than this, everything is just hearsay by the other knights. At a later point Sir Lancelot tells his loyal knights that he is the Queen's most trusted knight, and that he was charged with her protection. This makes perfect sense though, as Sir Lancelot would not want to expose the true nature of their relationship, because that would make it clear that the accusations of treason were true. This quote was chosen because I like to determine if something is more than just one sided.
3. “I will no more do than I have done.” said Sir Lancelot. “For when I see you on foot I will do battle upon you all the while I see you stand upon your feet; but to strike a wounded man that may not stand, God defend me from such a shame!”(Le Morte D'Arthur 782)
Sir Lancelot is speaking to Sir Gawain. This statement says a lot about Sir Lancelot's character. He has an unshakable sense of honor, and would never do something to bring shame upon himself. The only exception is when fighting for Queen Guinevere, or King Arthur. One example is when he fights to protect Queen Guinevere. He doesn't hesitate to kill anyone who poses a threat, but he does express disappointment in having to kill his fellow knights. An interesting note, is that Sir Lancelot still manages to be loyal to King Arthur even after all that has happened. He repeatedly states that he will never harm the Lord who made him a knight. Sir Lancelot could easily justify killing Sir Gawain, yet he still insists on standing by his sense of honor. Sir Gawain is probably the sole person that fuels the war against Sir Lancelot, he could use the reason that he would prevent his fellow knights from dying needlessly if he could take that one life. He could also claim self defense, because Sir Gawain states even upon defeat that if Sir Lancelot doesn't kill him, then he will certainly return. When comparing the characters of Sir Gawain, and Sir Lancelot, it is clear that Sir Lancelot is far more stable and unchanging even after all that has happened. Sir Gawain seems to be the evil knight who is driven by vengeance, while Sir Lancelot seems to be portrayed as the good honorable knight who is driven by love and honor with love being the priority as he can cast aside his honor if it is for the right person. I chose this quote because I was surprised at how adamant Sir Lancelot is with keeping his honor.
Annotated Bibliography
1. Kaufman, Amy S. "The Law of the Lake: Malory's Sovereign Lady". Arthuriana 17.3 (2007): 56-73. JSTOR. Web. 13 Oct. 2014
Amy S. Kaufman is a professor at Middle Tennessee State University who is also Director of Conferences for the International Society for the Study of Medievalism. She currently teaches English, Medieval Romance, and Feminist Theory. All of her publications relate to Medieval studies, and most discuss women in Arthurian literature. In this journal Kaufman brings up the recent studies that suggested that female characters take on a role as guides. She also mentions how Nynyve, the Lady of the Lake was also seen trying to change the foundation of King Arthur's court. Those changes included making efforts to protect women and their rights. I wonder if this means that Malory was in support for equal rights regardless of gender.
2. Hodges, Kenneth. “Guinevere's Politics in Malory's “Morte Darthur”” The Journal of English and Germanic Philology, Vol. 104, No. 1 (Jan., 2005), pp. 54-79. JSTOR. Web. 13 Oct. 2014
Kenneth Hodges is a professor at Keene State College who has had many articles published in relation to Arthurian literature. He holds a Ph.D in medieval literature and enjoys finding order in complex works. The particular article of interest is “Guinevere's Politics in Malory's “Morte Darthur””, which discusses Guinevere's ability to get people to act morally. The one exception is the adultery between her and Lancelot. He particularly enjoys learning about Chivalry, which is the code of conduct adopted by medieval knights. This covers a broad area of research since it also applies to moral, and social values as well.
3. Field, P. J. C. “Caxton's Roman War”. Arthuriana. Vol. 5, No. 2, EDITING MALORY (SUMMER 1995) , pp. 31-73. JSTOR. Web. 13 Oct. 2014
Peter Field is an English professor at Bangor University, and former president of the International Arthurian Society. He has produced a large number or Arthurian, and non-Arthurian works, though it was his Arthurian work that has made him known. Field speaks of the "Roman War", which from my understanding is the differences between Caxton, and Winchester texts. The Winchester script is supposed to be the most accurate, and it leaves Malory's personal notes instead of removing them. Field has also revised "The Life and Times of Sir Thomas Malory". He made corrections, made some notes, while refraining from modifying the text in any substantial way.
Checkpoint #3:
Annotated Bibliography
4. McLay Amy. "Swords: Power and Agency in the Morte Darthur". AmyMcLay Paterson, 2011. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
Amy McLay is a Teaching Assistant at Dalhousie University Faculty of Management. She holds a B.A. in English Language and Literature, a Master of Arts in English Literature, and she is a Master of Library and Information Studies candidate. The article is called “Chicks with Swords: Power and Agency in the Morte Darthur” which primarily focuses on gender. One being the sword which represents masculinity, while the sheathe represents femininity. She also mentions King Arthur's view of his sword Excalibur, which was given to him by the Lady of the Lake. Merlin calls Arthur unwise because he prefers the sword to the sheath, because the drawing the sword will likely result in blood while the sheath provides power without bloodshed. Another point that she makes is about Merlin and Lancelot. They are described as the most feminine male characters. She also talks about how Lancelot is well aware of the control Queen Guinevere has over him, and all of the great feats he is able to accomplish in her name. She recalls many instances where female characters are able to grant power to knights, and through them are able to effect the world around them. According to McLay, Malory gives all of his male characters outer strength, while female characters have inner strength. Inner strength refers to private thoughts, and seems to include wisdom. Outer strength refers to brute strength and violence. I haven't been able to identify any clear cases to identify double standards, but I think this will help form a picture. This will help form a complete picture by showing the qualities a powerful man or woman is likely to have.
5. Hodges, Kenneth. “Swords and Sorceresses: The Chivalry of Malory's Nyneve”. Arthuriana 12.2 (2002): 78-96. JSTOR. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
This source was sourced in “Guinevere's Politics in Malory's “Morte Darthur””.
Kenneth Hodges is a professor at Keene State College who has had many articles published in relation to Arthurian literature which I stated in a previous annotation. The article of interest is named “Swords and Sorceresses: The Chivalry of Malory's Nyneve”. I chose this article because McLay stated in the previous article, women were often seen bestowing swords, and therefore power to knights. I was also aware that as a character Nyneve had a lot of power and gave Arthur his Excalibur. Hodges talks a lot about the power Malory had given women. Prior to the transition to blood-feud chivalry women were seen objects for the taken. He uses Igrayne as an example. When she was kidnapped, she was portrayed as a helpless, and unimportant character. After the blood-feud chivalry transition, women were represented much differently, and Igrayne returned as an important character to tell her story. Hodges also discusses how Nyneve and Guinevere take steps to support women in the chivalric code. The most important discussion discusses the roles of Nyneve and Morgan le Fay. They are described as being tremendously powerful, polar opposites, and mortal enemies. Nyneve abides strictly by the chivalric code and protects Arthur, while Morgan le Fay has no respect for it, and plots to destroy Arthur. This article provides some valuable insight into how the role of female characters changed as a result of the blood-feud transition.
6. Jesmok, Janet. “The Double Life of Malory's Lancelot du Lake”. Arthuriana 17.4 (2007): 81-92. JSTOR. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
Janet Jesmok is a retired professor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, it was here she taught courses on Arthurian literature. She has been studying Malory's works since the 1970's. The article of interest is called “The Double Life of Malory's Lancelot du Lake”, which I chose because McLay mentioned that Lancelot was described as the most feminine and sensitive male character along with Merlin. It was said that it probably because he was raised by the Lady of the Lake without a fatherly figure. Note that “du Lake” is generally given to female characters. Jesmok talks about two personalities that Lancelot has, and says that his violent personality is suppressed by the chivalric code. Jesmok mentions the time Lancelot disguises himself and proceeds to kill fellow Knights of the Round Table while claiming to be an enemy of Arthur. The dark side was also seen arguing with Lamorak over whose lady is more beautiful. This childish argument led to a violent fight. Another example is when Melleagaunt kidnaps Guinevere. Jesmok notes that both the Lancelot, the protagonist, and Melleagaunt, the antagonist desire the same things from Guinevere and the only difference is that one is more forceful. Lancelot struggles constantly to keep this dark side repressed, and most people only see the good side which is described as being nearly a perfect example of a knight. This article didn't relate to my theme as much as I thought it was going to at first, but I found it really interesting that at times he acts much like a beserker. It is also seen that Malory wanted to make clear that Lancelot walked a fine line between the good guy, and the bad guy.
Reflection
During the research process I have noticed a few very common themes when scholars discuss Malory's work. One of the more common themes is gender, which often goes into discussing masculinity, or femininity. Some more common themes are social conflict, and personal conflict which are closely related. An example of personal conflict was when Lancelot acted out in violence when his alter-ego took over. Social conflict often lies in loyalties and adherence to chivalric code. Another is justice, which could easily result in personal, and social conflict when the person dealing justice has to do so against their own wishes or those around him. An instance of this occurred when Nyneve imprisoned (or killed) Merlin because he forcefully tried to seduce Nyneve. It was difficult for those that were close to Merlin, but it was decided that due to the strict chivalric code that she wasn't guilty of any crime, and punishment had been rightfully dealt. Many of the scholars approached their works by giving a brief summary of an incident, and then following up with more detail. These details usually looked into possible reasons a character acts the way they do, and also considers what message Malory was trying to send. It is amazing seeing how deeply Malory's works have been analyzed, and what process they use to learn more about the stories. The way they present their works, make it sound like Malory was some genius who never wrote down a word unless it contributed to his overall message.
Query
While researching, a few important questions came up regarding “Le Morte D'Arthur”, and Thomas Malory as a person. After seeing how deeply people analyze the readings, I began to question if Malory was simply telling a story, or trying to get a special message across. I find it difficult to believe that any human could put as much thought into a story before writing it as these scholars make it appear. I guess this would be proof that when an author writes, they see it as a form of art, rather than just a means of communication. My main question before starting is whether there are any clear cases of double standards present in King Arthur's court, and I figured that gender studies would provide the most insight into this area. I quickly found out that this is not a simple question. There are many stages in Malory's book that result in the change of social standings. As mentioned previously, following the blood-feud chivalry, the social status of female went up. The social status of many characters, including Igrayne, Nyneve, and Guinevere went up. Igrayne was the key character in one of the stories following this period, while both Nyneve, and Guinevere both played increasing roles in King Arthur's court.
Checkpoint #4:
Abstract
For this article I will be discussing themes that are likely to touch upon topics in which double standards are likely. Some of these topics include marriage, adultery, sexual misconduct, laws, and loyalty. Each of these topics can be part of one or more of the other topics. Double standards arise when one group of people are expected to abide by rules that don't apply or get applied differently to another group. Certain situations are fine, such as rules that a knight must follow that normal citizens don't have to concern themselves with. These rules are part of being a knight, and as long as they are applied consistently there is no danger of double standards. Sexual misconduct is one example of a double standard. An unmarried couple can choose to engage in sexual misconduct, but it is only the female and her family that becomes shamed because she lost her chastity. The male's honor would be completely unharmed because they are not expected to be chaste. Some situations of double standard can exist when it comes to the law. In a case where someone plots to kill the king or queen, the law demands that the person be charged with treason. If it was the king or queen that plotted to kill someone else, they would only go through trial for murder and not treason. Laws were put into place that would prevent someone from having a relationship with a servant, and the penalty would vary depending on the masters social status. Theses laws wouldn't punish the servant, it would punish the person they were having relations with. The end result is a system that makes it nearly impossible for a servant to fall in love. I will discuss further examples, and go into more detail about how each party is affected. In situations of law, Malory implemented much law, the way it was in the 14th century. The majority of examples will originate from the works of Malory, but some will also include elements of 14th century law in England.
Annotated Bibliography
7. Muckerheide, Ryan. “The English Law of Treason in Malory's 'Le Morte Darthur'”. Arthuriana 20.4 (2010): 48-77. JSTOR. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
Ryan Muckerheide is an Assistant Professor with a PhD at Bowling Green State University. He wrote a thesis called “English laws and customs in Sir Thomas Malory's 'Le Morte Darthur'”. He also wrote a journal article called “The English Law of Treason in Malory's “Le Morte Darthur””. Muckerheide mentions that treason in the early 14th century was mostly a crime against the king's peace, crown, or dignity. Due to how vague the term treason was, it became a political weapon that made it easier to convict than a felony. Muckerheide mentioned that Malory was a member of parliament, and sheriff for a few years. I recall there being a few candidates for being the real Malory, so it sounds like he is referring to John Malory of Warwickshire. Muckerheide describes Malory as being familiar with the way the law worked, but not officially taught. He also mentioned how murder was under the jurisdiction of the common law courts. There were strict proceedings for charging someone with murder, one example was when Queen Guinevere was suspected of poisoning apples that killed Sir Patryse. This situation is an example of double standard in the law, because if it were the other way around, Sir Patryse would have been charged with treason. King Arthur is tempted to defend his Queen, but is required to properly follow the court proceedings. Muckerheide also states that the adultery between Guinevere and Lancelot is obvious treason, but so is the fact that so many of the knights chose not to step forward for so long. Overall he discusses situations where Malory tries to have his characters abide strictly by law.
8. Kennedy, Beverly. “Adultery in Malory's 'Le Morte d'Arthur'”. Arthuriana 7.4 (1997): 63-91. JSTOR. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
Beverly Kennedy is a professor at Marianopolis College, who has written many journal articles relating to Malory's works. Besides the one referenced in this citation, she has written “The Idea of Providence in Malory's “Le Morte Darthur””, and many other journal articles. In discussing Sir Gawain and his viewpoint on adultery, it is clear that his viewpoint on the subject is an obvious double standard. If an unmarried female family member loses her chastity during improper sexual intercourse, the girl and her family would be dishonored. On the other end of the matter it is stated that if he were to engage in unlawful improper behavior, the honor of him or his families would be unharmed. It sounds like this is more of a societal issue than a strike against his character. Sir Gawain and King Arthur while unmarried had loose sexual ethics and were willing to engage in adulterous relationships as long as they didn't owe their loyalty to the woman's husband. I don't think this particular situation would be considered a double standard since only one person is expected to be faithful, but it could easily be considered immoral. Lancelot however, is different than the previous two. He sees unmarried sex to be a sin, and his wish is to honor god. He is unable to marry because it would put an end to his life as a knight. This results in a paradox, if he wishes to remain a knight it will ultimately lead to sin. It seems that Queen Guinevere is the only lady who can tempt him to “dishonor” god. This article has been important in better understanding adultery, sexual ethics, and in identifying some instances of double standards.
9. Moorman, Charles. “Courtly Love in Malory”. ELH 27.3 (1960): 163-176. JSTOR. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
Charles Moorman spent many years teaching as a professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, and has a PhD in English. Besides the text cited above, Moorman wrote “Wrote Unity of Malory's Darthur”, and “A Knight There Was: The Evolution of the Knight in Literature”. There are many more, but these are the most relevant to my research topic. Moorman talks about how obvious it is that Malory disapproves of the adulterous relationship between Lancelot, and Guinevere. He also states that the “Tale of Gareth” story is presented to show that the end of true love is marriage. I see the point that he tries to make, but I disagree with his wording. Through my own observations I feel that marriage shouldn't be the end, it should be a goal, and the start of something new. Moorman compares this story to the affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, in which courtly love, rather than virtuous love, which brought ruin to King Arthur and his kingdom. He mentioned the point in which Gareth the virtuous lover, was killed by Lancelot the courtly lover. He also mentions the irony of how Arthur committed
adultery with his half sister Morgan le Fay. This resulted in Mordred being born, who was dedicated towards insuring that Guinevere and Lancelot were punished for their crimes. It is clear as a result of reading this article, that Moorman was trying to prove that Malory saw an obvious difference between the two types of love and referred to stories he believed that Malory used to communicate this belief. It was beneficial to see these stories broken up into themes like this, and to see this from another perspective.
Argument against articles
The argument of the article from article annotation four by McLay appears to challenge the original thought that shows female characters playing a passive role, and describes situations where they play a more active role. I agree with some statements made by McLay which refer to Lancelot as being one of the most feminine male characters because of his “du Lake” title, which was granted only to female characters with power and influence in politics (Kaufman 57). This name was likely chosen because it was the Lady of the Lake who raised him, McLay also states that he was raised without a father figure while he was growing up. The main point that I greatly oppose is when she discusses how Lancelot is fully aware of his love for Queen Guinevere, and how his greatest deeds have always been for her. The fact that he is able to recognize why he is able to perform at his best, is the result of self reflection. This is not an ability specific to the feminine thought, but something that all humans should be capable of. Upon recognizing this, a person could embrace this as both a strength, and a weakness. In the case of Lancelot it is a weakness because of the tragic results, but also a strength because of his accomplishments.